Taking a trip back to nature on the railroad in Snoqualmie

The outing : Make sure to drive the back way to Snoqualmie. Eschew the speedy 30 miles between Seattle and the Cascades foothill town via Interstate 90 and take the circuitous 30 that takes up real interest outside of Redmond on the Redmond-Fall City Road (Highway 202). At Fall City, the highway turns east after it crosses the Snoqualmie River and then winds up the hill and into town.

You will be much calmer and at one with the countryside you've just entered.

You also will be ready for pizza and pins (aka food and bowling), chainsaw art, a couple of tacos for a buck at Smokey Joe's tavern (if you go on a Monday — Saturdays you're at full price with the half-pound burger at $6.95 or the 4-piece "world famous" roasted chicken at $7.50), a fancier swig in the bar at the Salish Lodge (about a mile's hike or drive from downtown) or beer-to-take-home-by-the-half-gallon at a local brewery, hanging over Snoqualmie Falls in the mist, gazing at dead, rusted locomotives in town, a train ride through the valley and a chance to chat with some darned nice folks.

Let the outdoor freaks ride their bikes up and down the upper Snoqualmie Valley and tout their virtue, let the gear freaks stomp up and down Mount Si, which presides over the town, and live to tell about it, let the danger-reality-show freaks clamber 300 feet down to the bottom of Snoqualmie Falls and show off their mist-laden hair.

Kenny's Northwest Experience features wooden creatures carved by Northwest artists, as well as classes to teach chainsaw art, such as the rooster planter owner George Kenny is carving for a customer.

You, in the meantime, can tell them you took a relaxing hour-plus-long train ride up and down the valley and watched them all and wished them well.

The train ride is brought to you by Snoqualmie Valley Railroad every weekend from April through October. Boarding is in Snoqualmie (though you can catch the train in North Bend in mid-journey). The complete trip includes a run to North Bend, comes back to Snoqualmie and then heads to a spot at the top of Snoqualmie Falls (about a 70-minute round trip) before returning to the Snoqualmie depot.

The trains, made up of old, refurbished railroad cars, leave several times on Saturdays and Sundays from Snoqualmie's original and now-restored depot, a lovely structure set back from Railroad Avenue Southeast in the center of town. The depot/museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day, even when the trains aren't running. Admission is free.

The first train out of Snoqualmie in April is at noon, then at 11 a.m. May through August. It's a civilized time that allows you to arrive in town, having first stopped to see the water gush over Snoqualmie Falls from its well-manicured park and overlook.

Richard Schall and his wife, Charlsia, make the drive from Seattle once a week to volunteer at the Snoqualmie Valley Railroad depot.

Hit the train first, then come back to town and stroll.

Snoqualmie is small; it's an easy stroll. And rewarding. And don't just stick to the main drag. There are interesting shops, views and neighborhoods on both sides of the tracks.

And of course, there is bowling, carving and that half gallon of beer to satisfy the most citified soul.

Shopping op: Chainsaw art. Yes, chainsaw art. Kenny's Northwest Experience, 8300 Railroad Avenue S.E., features not only the wooden creatures carved by a huge assortment of Northwest artists, but classes in beginning chainsaw artistry for those with a bit of talent and the will to heft a saw. Co building-inhabitant George Kenny School of Chainsaw Carving is but one of two in the country. 425-831-7685. Another bit of an off-beat shopping excursion is not to be missed — to Snoqualmie Falls Brewery, at 8032 Falls Ave. S.E., where you can bring your own container and get a half gallon of any one of five brews for $6.99 plus tax. 425-831-BEER.

Good eats: There are a number of small places in town, including Smokey Joe's Tavern, 38600 S.E. King St., a good place to grab a local beer and snack. However, it's worth a drive out of town, west toward where you came from (unless you stopped on the way out), to 4200 Preston Fall City Rd. S.E. There you'll find The Colonial Inn, open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. It is, in fact, a perfect place to start the day with breakfast. Eggs Benedict is $9.95, Prime Rib and Eggs is $11.95 and Chicken Fried Steak is $8.75. All are available until 2 p.m. 425-222-5191.

Cost: Train rides are $9 for adults, $8 for seniors and $6 for children (2 to 12). See trainmuseum.org/Programs.asp or call 425-888-3030. Admission to the museum in Snoqualmie is free.

Getting there: Perhaps quickest is to follow I-90 to exit 25, where you'll wind north downhill, past a shock of huge, new housing developments, into Snoqualmie. A more countryfied trek takes you out Highway 520 from Seattle to Redmond where it connects with Highway 202 or the Redmond-Fall City Road. That road travels to Fall City and then uphill past Snoqualmie Falls and into downtown Snoqualmie.

There's also the bus. Metro's 554 from downtown Seattle will take you to the Issaquah Park and Ride, where you can transfer to the 509, which then will drop you near the train depot in Snoqualmie. See transit.metrokc.gov/ or call 206-553-3000.

Terry Tazioli: ttazioli@seattletimes.com or 206-464-2224